Wilco Will Love You, Baby

Some of us got to see Wilco play at Coney Island last night. I’m happy to report that they remain one of the best live acts out there, with more than a little jaw-dropping virtuosity, inventive heart-on-your-sleeve songwriting and, yes, genuine showmanship. They connect! The new material came off well, and they kept the noodling to a minimum (Impossible Germany = bad, Spiders = good). Jeff Tweedy seemed to be in particularly good spirits, cracking some great jokes and reminding me of the recent NY Times interview with him:

Unlike the rock trope that only chronic agony produces important music, the absence of mayhem has been good for the work, [Tweedy] says.

“I was never at my best when I was at my worst,” he said, looking out the window as his sons — Spencer and Sam, 9 — bounce and laugh on a diving board. “When I did do good stuff in the past, it was because I was able to transcend the parts of my being that weren’t healthy.”

Mr. Tweedy has a Midwestern lack of pretension that is easy to be around, but he is a less than voluble interview, not because he doesn’t try to answer questions, but precisely because he does. He cares about being understood but struggles to explain himself because, as all writers will tell you, happy is nice, but happy is hard to explain.

“I suppose because everything about my life is better, markedly so, I’m a significantly happier person — well, I’m not being very eloquent about it,” he said, pausing, and then continued: “Having a solid base allows you to look at darker things and actually think about them. I debate people about this suffering myth, this tortured artist stuff, and they almost never buy it.”

It’s a fascinating topic, the relationship between art and suffering. I’m often tempted to claim that it contains echoes of a theology of the cross: suffering being the means of redemption artistically or something like that. Or to paraphrase Tweedy, God is at His best when we are at our worst.

Certainly the artist needs to be familiar with his/her own pain in order to connect with the pain of others. But it would seem that rock musicians, in order to really connect (or really produce), need to be in pain as well. This is just an observation – I can certainly think of plenty of counter examples – and I would love to hear other people’s thoughts. I only know that at the last few Wilco shows I’ve attended, the songs that blow me away are always the ones from A Ghost Is Born, the album Tweedy wrote when he was in his worst shape. In other words, I tend to agree with the critics in practice, even though I want to (and do) believe that there’s some truth in Tweedy’s claims.

Related

12 comments

Big fan of Wilco (and Mockingbird) out here in the Chicago 'burbs. In 2008 they did 5 nights over 6 days and played everything they ever recorded. Took in 2 of the shows and it was as good as anything I have ever seen.

Perhaps the analogy between the suffering artist doing their best work and the Gospel is brokeness. God is most able to work with me when I am empty and in my emptiness I turn to Him. My greatest revelations and insights about God and myself have come in periods of intense suffering.

I remember when A Ghost is Born came out and upon hearing those songs I thought that here was a man who was confused and in pain and very close to breaking down.

Is there great art in there? Of course; beautiful and moving songs, some of Tweedy's best lyrics are on that album (although I still think it could have been better with Jay Bennett to counterbalance him).

The difference for me between suffering for art and suffering for God is that there is no hope in art (read: ourselves). I don't know where Tweedy is spiritualy but for now his work ultimately leaves me cold. As opposed to the Psalms, where even in the midst of David's agony of the heart and mind, he has someone to turn to; someone who knew David better than he knew himself, and so therefore could provide real insight into his condition.

I am just as jealous of your Mockingbird meetings. I want one in my town.

I don’t get out much anymore so it was all a highlight but the biggest thing was the vibe. Everyone was so into the whole 5 nights every song thing. We attended nights 2 and 4. Night 2 was a Saturday and they opened strong with what seemed like 6 or 7 songs all at a high energy level including a Nels Cline meltdown on Handshake Drugs. Then just when everyone was waiting to see what was next the bassist John Stirratt did It’s Just That Simple from AM and everyone went nuts.

I think night 4 was the stronger of the two shows. The band seemed more confident. We got there early that night and staked out a place at the stage on the far right. Much hearing was lost. The highlight for me was when they ran Poor Places, Reservations and Kid Smoke/Spiders all together as a 20 minute medley. I seem to remember that they even did 2 or 3 minutes of Less Than You Think that transitioned Reservations into Spiders

Good times. Scripture says that God distributes talent all over the place; believers and non-believers. That way everyone gets blessed. What a gracious God.

ok dz. i take your unspoken bait. here's my top 13, in no order b/c how can you…and if it seems like experience (a life of lowgrade poetic explosion in chicago between 1998-2000) has something to do with it, i refer you to sonia sotomayor…it counts, but not enough to not take me seriously.

(13) Spiders (Kidsmoke) (especially the acoustic version)(12) Woodgrain(11) One Wing(10) Ashes of American Flags(9) Hotel Arizona(8) I'm Always in Love(7) Jesus, Etc.(6) Radio Cure(5) Not for the Season(4) I'm the Man Who Loves You(3) She's A Jar(2) Far, Far Away(1) Less Than You Think (yes, I'm a fan of the noise collage)

I should probably try to see them live again; it's been a few years for me.

1. jeff – "it's just that simple"! i had forgotten about that song… it was originally one of my favorites on AM.

My favorite wilco live experience was when i saw them in baltimore on the summerteeth tour, before jay and ken left the band. jeff premiered both "remember the mountain bed" AND "i'm the man that loves you", while jay went absolutely nuts on the guitar (nels cline he was not, but some serious chops nonetheless).

2. great, great lists! i can't believe i forgot about "ashes of american flags". and "hotel arizona" would have probably been number 14. (wrb – woodgrain is a bold move… but one that i commend).

p.s. c- the version of "handshake drugs" the other night was unbelievably good.

[…] This week saw the release of the new Mavis Staples’ record, One True Vine, her second with Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy in the producer’s seat. Tweedy even wrote a couple of gospel songs for her (as only he can), […]

Publications

About

WHAT: Mockingbird seeks to connect the Christian faith with the realities of everyday life in fresh and down-to-earth ways.

WHY: Are we called Mockingbird? The name was inspired by the mockingbird’s peculiar gift for mimicking the cries of other birds. In a similar way, we seek to repeat the message we have heard – God’s word of grace and forgiveness.

HOW: Via every medium available! At present this includes (but is not limited to) a daily weblog, weekly podcasts, a quarterly print magazine, semi-annual conferences, and an ongoing publications initiative.

WHO: At present, we employ four full-time staff, David Zahl, Ethan Richardson, Margaret Pope and CJ Green, and four part-time, Sarah Condon, Bryan Jarrell, Luke Roland and Marcy Hooker. They are helped and supported by a large number of contributing volunteers and writers. Our board of directors is chaired by The Rev. Aaron Zimmerman.

WHERE: Our offices are located at Christ Episcopal Church in Charlottesville, VA.

WHEN: Mockingbird was incorporated in June 2007 and is currently in its 12th year of operation.

Online Giving

The work of Mockingbird is made possible by the gifts of private donors and churches. Our fundraising burden for 2019 is roughly $360,000, and with virtually no overhead, your gifts translate directly into mission and ministry. Can you help? Please feel free to email us at info@mbird.com if you have any questions or would like more information.

As a convenience, we are set up to accept online donations via Paypal. This method will allow you to give with a credit card, in any amount you wish. Simply click on the button below and follow the instructions.